[Executive Corner] Insight Relations: Paving the Way for LG’s Future Vision
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By News Reporter
As smart home and electrification technologies emerge as key trends in the home appliance sector, we are seeing an industry-wide shift away from simple product sales to a more service-oriented business model.
Smart home technology simplifies the management of complex devices through a range of helpful automation features. By utilizing insights gained from home appliances and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, the latest smart home tech can better understand customer’s lifestyles and needs. This, in turn, enables the delivery of proactive, tailored services that reduce the burden of household chores. As the technology advances, we move closer to the realization of what LG calls the Zero Labor Home.
*This image is designed to aid understanding of a smart home solution that connects and controls devices within the home (Image Source: Feepik)
Smart home solutions have become a major focus not only for appliance manufacturers but also for IoT, telecommunications, construction and big tech companies. The introduction of smart home standards or protocols, such as Matter,1 is enhancing connectivity between appliances, IoT devices and home systems. Moreover, generative artificial intelligence (AI) and ambient computing2 technologies are making it possible for users to control devices and services through voice commands alone, saving them time and making life at home far more convenient.
*This image was created to aid understanding
One of the leaders in this space, LG recently introduced its latest AI Home solution, offering users the ability to control their home appliances and IoT devices through conversational voice commands. FURON, LG’s generative AI agent and the brain of the AI Home, is able to learn and remember users’ preferences for various devices and apply the appropriate settings in the given situation. Furthermore, LG AI Home connects seamlessly with appliances and IoT devices from a growing number of global brands and integrates flawlessly with various types of apps through ThinQ ON, LG’s AI home hub. The company is continuing to expand its AI Home ecosystem to offer users a broader range of smart home solutions and services.
The transition from fossil fuel to electricity-powered products is a significant global trend – one that is expected to accelerate due to the enforcement of international regulations aimed at mitigating global warming. Boilers are rapidly being replaced by heat pump heating systems, gas ranges by induction cooktops and gas dryers by heat pump dryers. Against this backdrop, LG is actively strengthening its research and development (R&D) programs to discover more efficient and reliable heat pump technologies. These efforts include the recent completion of the company’s “global R&D triangle” to create specialized solutions for cold climates, and the hosting of the Global Heat Pump Consortium, which was founded by LG in collaboration with international universities.
*This image was created to aid understanding
Moving forward, electrification technology will evolve into smart home energy solutions that optimize energy generation, storage and usage within the home. Ultimately, this evolution will give rise to living environments whose occupants can enjoy convenient cooking, heating and cooling – and a dependable supply of hot water – while simultaneously reducing household energy consumption and environmental impacts.
Known for its expertise in smart life solutions, LG has always emphasized the importance of innovation. LG’s core technologies, including the linear compressor (refrigerators), Direct Drive motor and TrueSteam technology (washing machines, Styler), and dual rotary and scroll compressors (air conditioners), have played a crucial role in the company’s rise to leadership in the global home appliance market. Looking ahead, the role of LG’s R&D division will be even more vital in discovering new electrification and smart home technologies. Through a commitment to excellence and a spirit of inquiry, LG will continue to lead the way to a better future.
By Oh Sai-kee, Head of LG Electronics Home Appliance and Air Solution R&D Center
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1 A smart home and IoT device connectivity standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). Matter enables seamless interoperability between smart devices and platforms from diverse ecosystems.
2 Ambient computing refers to technology that is able operate invisibly in the background, blending into the environment and working automatically without users noticing its presence. Also referred to as “invisible computing” or “disappearing computing”.
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By News Reporter
Company Drives Strategic Growth With AI webOS, an Intelligent Platform
that Delivers Outstanding Customer Value and Unique User Experiences
SEOUL, Sep. 30, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) last week held webOS Summit 2024 in Incheon, South Korea, sharing its strategic vision and future initiatives for expanding the AI webOS ecosystem and growing its platform business. Themed “Empowering webOS with AI,” the second webOS Summit played host to around 300 attendees representing 140 partner companies – including content developers, producers and providers – from 24 countries. The event also marked a major milestone: the tenth anniversary of the launch of webOS on LG smart TVs.
AI webOS plays a pivotal role in LG’s ambitious business transformation, shifting from a consumer electronics manufacturer to a Smart Life Solution Company. With a strategic investment of over KRW 1 trillion (USD 740 million), LG aims to significantly enhance the capabilities of its webOS platform and related businesses.
To achieve its strategic vision and elevate the value of its unique offerings, LG is continuously broadening the extensive selection of content and services accessible on AI webOS. The platform, which delivers exceptional experiences to LG TV users in over 180 countries, currently provides over 4,000 apps, including those for entertainment, home fitness, education and gaming.
This year, LG is reinforcing the reputation of AI webOS as an advanced gaming platform by adding a variety of new services and experience innovations. At present, the cutting-edge platform offers around 4,500 games across popular cloud gaming services such as GeForce NOW and Amazon Luna. To make gaming on its TVs even more responsive, LG has teamed up with MediaTek and Razer, leveraging new Bluetooth Ultra-Low Latency (BT ULL) technology to reduce input lag to an imperceptible 1ms when using a Bluetooth gaming controller. Demonstrated during webOS Summit 2024, this impressive responsiveness enhances the cloud gaming experience, giving users more precise control and making gameplay more immersive.
LG is also bolstering its competitive edge in content and services by actively seeking out and securing top industry talent. The company recently hosted a global hackathon to discover compelling new games and AI-powered content suitable for AI webOS and is also collaborating on game development with respected institutes of higher education, such as Sungkyunkwan University and New York University.
Furthermore, with the introduction of webOS Pay, LG has made it faster and more convenient for users to purchase content and services on AI webOS. The simple-to-use payment service contributes to the seamless, personalized shopping experience on LG’s intelligent platform.
Over the last decade, LG has sold a remarkable 220 million smart TVs and has consistently strengthened its webOS platform business through licensing agreements with an array of local and global companies. LG first made webOS available to other TV makers in 2021, and since then, the versatile platform has been adopted by over 400 brands. The company is now poised to further expand the webOS ecosystem via an array of webOS-powered automotive infotainment solutions, digital signage, smart monitors, gaming monitors and projectors.
Additionally, the webOS platform is shoring up LG’s strong competitiveness in the advertising business. In 2024, revenue generated by advertising and services on webOS is projected to exceed KRW 1 trillion, which represents a fourfold increase from 2021.
A significant contributor to this excellent performance is LG Channels, a free, ad-supported streaming service that provides over 3,800 channels and is now available in 29 countries. The company has augmented its already stellar offering of top-notch viewing options on its free service with the launch of LG Channels Showcase and LG 1 – new channels boasting a curated selection of premium entertainment. What’s more, LG is adding value to the user experience via the provision of AI-based ad solutions that make content recommendations even more relevant to user preferences.
With its Affectionate Intelligence vision for a more caring, empathetic and attentive AI technology, LG is continuously enriching and enhancing the customer experience. The application of Affectionate Intelligence allows webOS users to enjoy easier control as well as personalized content and service recommendations suited to their individual tastes and lifestyles. Through collaborations with innovative partner companies and the seamless integration of the latest technologies, LG is constantly refining its cutting-edge platform.
Along with informative presentations and demonstrations, webOS Summit 2024 featured an experience zone where attendees were able to see first-hand how powerful AI technologies are driving customer experience innovation on webOS. One of the many intelligent features offered on LG’s platform, AI Concierge employs voice recognition, search history and user data to provide customized app and viewing recommendations. Thanks to its ability to recognize different voices, AI webOS can take each LG smart TV user straight to their own personalized Home Screen without having to manually select their profile.
“Our webOS platform business continues to go from strength to strength based on close collaboration with our valued partners and an unrelenting focus on meeting the diverse needs of our customers,” said Park Hyoung-sei, president of the LG Home Entertainment Company. “Celebrating a decade of webOS innovation, and now enriching customer’s everyday lives with AI webOS, LG is accelerating its transformation into a leading media and entertainment platform company.”
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By News Reporter
Between September 6-10, LG showcased its diverse range of AI-powered home solutions, opening a new chapter of intelligent home living at its IFA 2024 booth. Under the theme of Experience, Affectionate Intelligence (AI) Home, the company presented its unique, AI-inspired vision of future living to visitors from around the world.
Designed in collaboration with Korean science fiction author Kim Cho-yeop, the expansive booth featured diverse experience zones curated to demonstrate how the company’s AI can be embedded into home life to elevate lifestyles in intelligent and distinctive ways.
Upon entering Hall 18 of Messe Berlin, visitors were greeted by the AI Home Gate, a massive LED media wall displaying the journey of LG AI, from the birth of LG’s AI Agent, FURON, to how it communicates with the world and enriches daily life.
After gaining a solid understanding of what Affectionate Intelligence is all about, visitors could explore how it makes everyday life more simple and convenient. Divided into several distinct lifestyle spaces, LG’s booth showcased how natural conversations with
link hidden, please login to view, can help manage every aspect of daily routines.
The first lifestyle space, “Second Youth Home,” showcased a new and more active lifestyle for retirees. The digital signage on the wall visualized how ThinQ ON customizes and takes care of home appliances depending on the user. For example, after recognizing certain phrases like “tennis lesson” on the user’s calendar, ThinQ ON automatically sets the washer and dryer to its “Activewear course” via Smart Pairing.
, employs AI DD technology to intelligently minimize water and energy usage based on each load. It also features Easy Control technology, which automatically selects cycles according to usage patterns and user preferences for maximum convenience.
The second lifestyle space, named “Smart Green Home,” showcased the ideal abode for families passionate about the environment and energy conservation. Among the many power-saving solutions on display, LG’s AI-enhanced Energy Storage System (ESS) analyzes energy usage patterns and weather forecasts to adjust its mode according to various conditions. Another highlight was the . With these devices – both inside and outside the home, connected to ThinQ ON – LG AI optimizes household energy usage in real-time and reduces energy bills by intelligently managing the power consumption of every connected device.
The next lifestyle space was the “Affectionate Home,” designed with children and pets in mind. It featured the company’s Self-Driving AI Home Hub, which can move freely around the home and interact with children through conversation. Its multi-modal sensing combines voice, sound and image recognition to change its expression according to various emotions, allowing it to respond to different situations with appropriate etiquette. The hub can move from room to room and control connected appliances and IoT devices, constantly making sure the environment is optimized for the little ones.
Not just a hub for home appliances, LG AI is an Affectionate Intelligence storyteller that boasts a deep level of emotional depth and understanding, enabling it to communicate and interact with users effectively. Through generative AI, the Self-Driving AI Home Hub can develop stories based on images drawn by the user, ensuring a unique bedtime story every night.
The next room demonstrated how LG appliances optimize the environment for pets and their owners. Once temperature and humidity sensors detect indoor air conditions, the LG DUALCOOL air conditioner can achieve the perfect temperature with airflow customized to suit the environment and personal preferences.
This zone also featured the AeroCat, a purifier designed specifically for cats. As every cat owner knows, cats love to sleep on devices and appliances. With this in mind, LG AeroCat can detect when a pet sits on top of it, stopping operation to provide a quiet place for a nap. And since weight can be an important indicator of heath, the AeroCat’s built-in weight sensor tracks the pet’s weight and alerts owners of any unusual changes via the ThinQ app.
“Delightful Home,” the final lifestyle space on display, presented a perfect setting for inviting and entertaining family and friends through a shared love of food. This zone highlighted LG AI’s ability to make cooking easier and quicker, with ThinQ ON providing menu recommendations and step-by-step instructions for numerous delicious dishes. Visitors could even learn some new skills by watching the “AI Talking Cooking Show,” a live cooking demonstration by chef Kristof Mulack, a culinary master who knows the best ways to customize LG’s AI appliances.
To let visitors focus on the technology that makes all these lifestyle spaces possible, the company also set up the “LG Affectionate Intelligence” zone. This area effectively illustrated the connectivity and expandability of the Matter-certified LG ThinQ ON, engineered to help users manage their entire smart home with a single device.
LG also shined a light on its AI legacy with a special “AI to the Core” space. Using a transparent OLED display, the company explained how its Core Tech has evolved into LG AI core tech. This lineup includes revolutionary AI DD and AI DUAL Inverter, both of which employ AI to enhance performance and deliver more precise control, resulting in new and improved levels of customer care and user experiences.
The final zone by LG was none other than the “Sustainability Lounge,” which provided visitors with an overview of the company’s latest efforts to promote sustainable living. Here, visitors could relax while learning more about LG’s ESG activities, including its use of recycled plastics in select products.
LG’s booth at IFA 2024 successfully delivered an insightful window into the LG AI Home. Stay tuned to to explore how LG AI can enrich daily life in the new era of AI.
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By News Reporter
The global market for smart home technology is experiencing unprecedented growth, due in no small part to the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Boasting the ability to learn from people’s device-usage patterns and preferences, AI-powered home solutions can provide highly personalized experiences tailored to each customer’s unique needs.
LG is at the forefront of this trend, setting new standards and creating new possibilities and value with its advanced AI technology. Earlier this year, the company redefined AI as “Affectionate Intelligence,” emphasizing its commitment to creating empathetic and caring AI that delivers unique customer experiences. At IFA 2024, LG unveiled its vision for the future of home living under the theme “Experience, Affectionate Intelligence Home.” The company’s Berlin showcase highlighted how AI can transform everyday life by anticipating and meeting customers’ needs in a variety of different situations and scenarios.
IFA 2024 saw the debut of LG’s latest AI Home solutions, designed to bring the convenience and freedom of the “Zero Labor Home.” Offering far more than just simplified device control and connectivity, Affectionate Intelligence introduces empathy and care to the smart home environment, enhancing customers’ quality of life in myriad ways.
Central to LG’s vision is LG ThinQ ON, an AI hub that seamlessly orchestrates the operation of all smart devices in the home. Through ThinQ ON and innovations such as the LG Self-Driving AI Home Hub, LG’s booth gave IFA attendees an opportunity to see firsthand how AI can help create a comfortable and connected home experience. Individually and collectively, the company’s innovations exemplify the concept of Affectionate Intelligence, where AI not only responds to commands but also understands and evolves to meet changing needs.
Firstly, LG AI Home provides “Conversational Interactions,” allowing users to control home appliances and Internet of Things (IoT) devices with voice commands alone. The brain of LG AI Home is the company’s generative AI agent, FURON, which integrates advanced large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 Omni. FURON combines learning and contextual understanding with real-time spatial sensing and user lifestyle data to optimize the home environment for each user.
As an example of how this works in practice, if a user says, “Hi LG, I’m going to sleep. Please turn off any devices that are still running,” the AI Home Hub will assess the situation and respond accordingly, such as offering to turn off the dryer if it has nearly finished its cycle. The hub can also tailor the environment for a good night’s sleep by playing the user’s preferred relaxation music and dimming the lights.
Additionally, FURON learns user preferences for different device settings, remembering and applying them at the appropriate times for personalized comfort and convenience. Designed with flexibility, FURON can incorporate additional LLMs to evolve with new technological developments.
LG AI Home also offers an “Upgradability” feature, allowing users to upgrade their existing appliances into AI-powered devices, delivering the convenience and comfort of LG AI Home while saving them the expense of buying newer models. For example, connecting a non-AI TV and an occupancy sensor to ThinQ ON allows LG’s intelligent system to pause content when the user leaves the room and resume it upon return. Similarly, connecting an air conditioner and a sensor enables automatic adjustment of airflow strength and direction based on the user’s position within the room.
LG has been at the forefront of smart appliance innovation since 2011 when it added Wi-Fi modules to its home appliances. Continuing its leadership, the company introduced ThinQ UP, leveraging on-device AI chips and appliance-specific operating systems for feature upgrades and peak operational performance. These customer-centric innovations enable conventional appliances to “evolve” into AI-powered ones, improving daily life and solidifying LG’s leadership in AI home solutions.
Finally, LG AI Home offers “Extensive Connectivity” with various global brands’ appliances and IoT devices, working smoothly with all kinds of apps, including calendars, transportation services and online shopping platforms. Users can effortlessly manage their schedules, control household devices and receive real-time updates for a more personalized and connected home experience.
LG is continuing to expand the LG AI Home ecosystem. Through its acquisition of smart home company Athom, LG has ensured that ThinQ ON can connect with over 50,000 devices and IoT appliances and is compatible with more than 1,000 third-party apps. This presents users with a wider range of smart home solutions and services to choose from, giving them the freedom to create the convenient home lifestyle they’ve always dreamed of.
While LG’s AI solutions work in perfect harmony to help realize the company’s Zero Labor Home vision – where household chores are automated, and people have more time to relax and enjoy life – the LG Shield security system vigilantly protects customer data around the clock.
A leader in AI home solutions, LG will continue to push the boundaries of customer-centric innovation. Before the end of this year, LG plans to introduce IoT devices, including motion and light sensors, air quality sensors, temperature and humidity sensors, and smart plugs, all designed to integrate perfectly with ThinQ ON. Customers will be able to purchase an AI Home package featuring these new devices with professional installation by qualified technicians. In addition, ThinQ ON will add support for the Athom ecosystem, allowing users to connect their AI home to an even more extensive array of products and services from other brands.
LG’s Affectionate Intelligence will soon extend beyond the home, connecting different spaces in people’s lives, from cars to commercial environments such as hotels and offices. The company is committed to creating a sustainable future where its intelligent and caring AI technology is always there, working autonomously and proactively to enhance every experience.
By Lyu Jae-cheol, President of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company
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By News Reporter
Seamlessly Integrating Customer and Spatial Experiences, Company’s “Affectionate
Intelligence Home” Presents an AI Home Lifestyle of Curated Comfort and Convenience
SEOUL, Sep. 5, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) is set to unveil its vision for future living at IFA 2024, showcasing a complete range of AI home solutions for every need and lifestyle under the theme of “Experience, Affectionate Intelligence (AI) Home.”
Central to LG’s Affectionate Intelligence Home is LG ThinQ ON, an advanced AI home hub designed to deliver comfort and convenience tailored to individual preferences. ThinQ ON seamlessly integrates with LG’s latest AI appliances, forming the core of the LG AI Home Solution. This system is driven by Affectionate Intelligence, LG’s empathetic and caring AI technology. As the AI Home Solution learns more about users’ routines, preferences and behaviors over time, it creates a personalized spatial experience, delivering unmatched customer value and bringing greater ease to everyday life.
The first thing visitors to the LG booth at IFA 2024 will encounter is the AI Home Gate, an immersive LED media wall that visually communicates how LG AI is deployed within the AI Home to elevate customer lifestyles.
Visitors will get to experience LG’s sophisticated generative AI technology through the ThinQ ON hub once they pass through the AI Home Gate. ThinQ ON understands natural language, allowing users to control a wide range of appliances, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and services with conversational voice commands. LG’s AI hub facilitates a truly personalized AI home lifestyle, managing everything from lifestyle services to helping kids get a good night’s sleep.
Intelligently Personalized AI Home Lifestyles for Every Generation, Family and Pet
The Second Youth Home exemplifies LG’s commitment to enhancing the lives of the elderly by easing household chores and enriching leisure activities. Powered by ThinQ ON, this space highlights how conversational voice-recognition and seamless coordination of home appliances – for example, automatically setting the dryer to “Activewear course” once the washing machine finishes a workload – simplify home management. The AI hub can also provide voice briefings to keep users informed of what’s going on, relieve stress by offering guidance for tasks such as booking a taxi, and estimate travel time to the selected destinations.
In the Affectionate Home zone, the focus is on AI solutions designed to help families care, especially for children and pets. The Self-Driving AI Home Hub, capable of controlling AI appliances and IoT sensors, adjusts device settings and environmental conditions to meet children’s needs. For example, it can activate Sleep Mode at bedtime, dimming lights and adding a starlight effect to help kids drift off to sleep. Additionally, the hub supports learning by using generative AI to create stories from children’s drawings.
For easier pet care, LG’s AI Home Solution manages connected appliances and devices to maintain fresh air and clean floors. Air-quality sensors intelligently control the LG PuriCare Alpha Pet Double air purifier, while temperature and humidity sensors manage the DUALCOOL air conditioner, automatically adjusting mode and air flow to suit current conditions. The robot vacuum autonomously cleans the floor once after pets leave, ensuring a more pleasant living space. Additionally, the Affectionate Home zone introduces a brand-new home appliance made especially for cats (and their owners). The innovative LG AeroCat combines a cat bed with an air purifier to offer a comfortable resting spot for cats and a fresher atmosphere for their human companions.
In the Delightful Home zone, ThinQ ON takes center stage in creating a more convenient culinary experience by engaging with visitors and providing personalized recipe recommendations as well as nutritional analysis. Visitors can also enjoy live cooking demonstrations, such as the “AI Talking Cooking Show,” savor the delicious dishes prepared by LG’s AI ovens with built-in cameras, and see how the InstaView with MoodUP refrigerator enhances the ambiance.
Next up is the Smart Green Home, a self-sustaining abode featuring high-efficiency appliances, including the advanced Therma V R290 Monobloc air-to-water heat pump and state-of-the-art heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. LG AI optimizes household energy usage in real time, adjusting device settings and schedules in accordance with users’ lifestyles and routines, while accounting for fluctuations in electricity rates. ThinQ ON also helps reduce household energy costs by intelligently managing the power consumption of all connected devices.
Innovating the AI Home Ecosystem and Key Technologies with LG AI
The LG Affectionate Intelligence zone showcases the scalability of LG’s Affectionate Intelligence with ThinQ ON at its core. Utilizing LG’s own generative AI technology and advanced security solutions, ThinQ ON acts as the central hub of diverse IoT ecosystems enhanced by a range of LG’s IoT sensors and devices. These include motion and light sensors, temperature and humidity sensors and smart buttons, all providing real-time spatial information for personalized, AI-driven home services.
The zone also highlights how LG’s open AI ecosystem integrates third-party services to enrich the customer experience and demonstrates the versatility of IoT sensors that can even connect non-AI appliances to the AI Home system. The exhibit underscores the scalability of LG’s AI solutions, giving visitors a real sense of the intelligent and responsive living environment LG is creating.
What’s more, the LG Affectionate Intelligence zone illustrates how ThinQ ON serves as the home’s central hub, working in complete harmony with LG’s ThinQ UP and ThinQ app, and a wide variety of services and solutions. This creates an exceptionally personalized experience and fosters a continuously-growing AI home ecosystem.
Finally, the AI to the Core zone highlights the cutting-edge innovation of LG’s AI Core-Tech, including the AI DD and the AI DUAL Inverter. The integration of LG’s latest AI solutions with industry-leading core technologies delivers more precise control, improved energy efficiency and enhanced personalization.
“Our Affectionate Intelligence Home solutions at IFA 2024 will enable customers to experience the ease of the Zero Labor Home, where they can enjoy a life free from mundane household chores,” said Lyu Jae-cheol, president of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. “We will continue to lead the AI home era with our Affectionate Intelligence solutions and state-of-the-art core technologies.”
Visitors to LG’s booth (Hall 18, Messe Berlin) at IFA 2024 from September 6-10 can discover the unprecedented customizability and convenience of the company’s latest Affectionate Intelligence Home solutions.
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